Creative Youth Development

Creative potential in youth

The Creative Youth Development National Partnership, in concert with more than 650 cross-sector stakeholders nationally, is calling for all young people to have equitable access to opportunities to: realize their creative potential;  live richer, fuller lives; and develop the critical learning and life skills they need to become active contributors to their communities.

The resulting Creative Youth Development National Blueprint identifies three strategic priorities for advancing CYD:

• VISIBILITY & IMPACT: Documenting and Communicating Outcomes and Impact
• FUNDING: Expanding Pathways to Funding
• FIELD BUILDING: Professional Development, Networking, and Technical Assistance

The CYD National Partnership will host an online forum in May to discuss the Blueprint’s three strategic priority areas.

Creative youth development is a long-standing practice that integrates creative skill-building, inquiry, and expression with positive youth development principles. In these programs, young people create original work—including animated films, 3-D printed sculptures, dance and theater productions, musical compositions, curated book collections, and more—and apply their creative skills to solve problems, shape their lives, and imagine and build the world in which they want to live.

With support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the CYD National Partnership—which includes the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Americans for the Arts, the Mass Cultural Council, and formerly the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities—gathered input on strategies to expand the reach and impact of CYD through numerous community conversations throughout the country over an 18-month period.

Woven throughout the Blueprint are core values of the CYD coalition: racial equity and social justice, youth voice, and collective action. Read the Executive Summary.

“Creative youth development has the unique potential to deepen and sustain youth engagement by providing opportunities for youth to develop their creative potential, amplify their voices, and build leadership skills,” said Jonathan Herman, Executive Director of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. “For many youth, CYD programs also can be a pathway to other services such as college and career readiness, mental health services, academic support, and more.”

Participants in this national movement include youth, practitioners, researchers, funders, policy makers, and other stakeholders in creative youth development and allied sectors. The Partnership also commissioned research by the Forum for Youth Investment that mapped opportunities for alignment, e.g. developing social emotional competence; promoting healthy decision making/behaviors; and reengaging young people in positive learning and work environments, among CYD and allied youth sectors, including afterschool, juvenile justice, mental health, education, and workforce development. Three cross-sector Action Teams were then formed to analyze and distill the research and stakeholder inputs and make final recommendations for the Blueprint.

“Providing today’s youth with the skills they need to lead fulfilling lives across all economic, social, and family circumstances is a large-scale undertaking,” said Erik Peterson, Vice President of Policy, Afterschool Alliance. “To do this urgent work effectively, we must work together to share lessons learned, networks, and resources.”

The Blueprint will evolve as implementation unfolds and will be updated online to reflect progress toward goals.

READ THE CYD NATIONAL ACTION BLUEPRINT

Money, Money, Money

MAC Funding

The deadline is just around the corner for several of the Maine Arts Commission (MAC) grants. The grants overview is located on the MAC site at THIS LINK.

Below are the grants and the deadlines.

March 1, 2018 DEADLINE:

• ARTS LEARNING
• CCED GRANT PHASE 1 & 2
• ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• PARTNERSHIP
• PROJECT GRANTS FOR ORGANIZATIONS

Applications will be accepted in our online Grants Management System (GMS) up to 5 p.m., Thursday, March 1. If you’ve never submitted an application you will need to create an account first at the link above.

March 8, 2018 DEADLINE:

• JANE MORRISON FILM FUND
• PROJECT GRANTS FOR ARTISTS

Questions? Comments? Email or call Senior Grants Director Kathy Shaw at kathy.shaw@maine.gov or 207-287- 2750.

MAC Awards Grants

Over $37,000 awarded!

The Arts Learning grants, along with several other grant programs, totaling $375,134.00 were approved yesterday by the commission members of the Maine Arts Commission.

One of this years grant recipients: Teaching artist Susan Camp will be providing an artist residency at Leonard Middle School in Old Town during this school year. She will work with visual art educator Adele O’Brien-Drake to create portraits on gourds.

The Arts Learning grants are providing $37,200.00 to a mixture of 18 schools and organizations all committed to providing quality arts education programming for young people. The selection process involves four amazing panelists who dedicated hours and hours to reviewing each application, gathering to discuss them and scoring each one, using a rubric based on the criteria. The panelists scores are added together to determine a total score.

We are considering changing the arts education grant for next year to build on the successes. I encourage you to consider applying by brainstorming ideas and having conversations with school personnel, community arts organizations, and teaching artists. If you have questions or wish to discuss an idea please don’t hesitate to contact me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.  I’d be glad to assist you in the applications process. The deadline is the end of March BUT it is never to early to begin the planning process. Each awardee’s work will have a blog post that will include the project so you can learn about them. This years recipients are listed below with the titles of their applications. CONGRATULATIONS to all of you!

• 317 Main Community Center, Yarmouth – Building Learning and Life Skills through Music Education
• Bangor High School, Bangor – Ceramic/Sgraffito Artist workshop
• Breakwater Learning, Portland – Play Start Studio: Artist in Residence
• Figures of Speech Theatre, Freeport – The Art of Memory
• Jazz Residency Initiative, Denmark – Jazz Residency Initiative Programming
• Learning Works, Portland – Learning Works Afterschool, Youth Dance Program
• Leonard Middle School, Old Town, Harvesting Identify
• Longfellow Elementary School, Portland – Filling a Void: Building a Performing Arts Program at Longfellow Elementary
• Maine Academy of Modern Music, Portland – Mammoth Rock Chorus in Local Elementary Schools,
• Oceanside High School, Rockland – OHS Art Lab in the Halls – A School & Community Collaboration
• Opera House Arts, Stonington – Creative  Stages Theatre Education Initiative
• Partners in Island Education, Vinalhaven – Galvanizing Student Connections between the Island Landscape and Art
• Portland Ballet, Portland – CORPS support
• Portland Ovations, Portland – Story to Stage
• Portland Stage, Portland – Support for Portland Stage’s K-12 Education Programming
• The Telling Room, Portland – Field Trips
• Union Elementary School, Union – Come Spring
• Waterfall Arts, Belfast – Youth & Family Outreach After School Art Programs

Arts Learning Grants

Maine Arts Commission grants

The Maine Arts Commission awards grants to artists, arts organizations, and arts educators through 12 different programs. The 2017 applications for six of these, with a deadline of March 23, are now open. The Arts Learning grant is especially for schools and educators working with students providing arts education.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 23, 2017, 5 PM.

The maximum award is $5,000. Last year the average grant award was $2,300.

ABOUT THE ARTS LEARNING GRANT

Funds are to be used to enhance PK-12 arts education through teaching artist programs, connections with community arts education, curriculum planning, professional learning for arts educators, teaching artists and teachers of all content.

The proposal should include the use of best educational standards-based practices reflecting 21-century teaching and learning.

PK-12 schools, community organizations, and cultural institutions acting as or in partnership with teaching artists are eligible to apply for the Arts Learning grant.

There is a required 50% in-kind or cash match for this grant. (For example, an applicant asking for $5,000 must provide $2,500 of matching support.)

The funding cycle for this program is July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Your school or organization is eligible to apply only if it meets all of the following criteria:

• Is a nonprofit organization, legally established in the state of Maine.
• Has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, is a public school, or is a unit of municipal, county or tribal government.
• Is in compliance with final reports required for any previous Maine Arts Commission awards received.

REVIEW CRITERIA

Arts Learning Grant applications are reviewed on a competitive basis using the following criteria:

• Demonstration of high-quality arts education teaching and learning opportunities. (25%)
• Clear description of the project and its impact. (20%)
• Evidence of significant collaborative planning among teachers and other partners and capacity to carry it out. (20%)
• Description of evaluation methodology with clear objectives and outcomes. (15%)
• Alignment with State of Maine Learning Results for Visual and Performing Arts. (10%)
• Assurance that the project will include certified, trained teaching artists and will provide professional development opportunities where appropriate. (10%)

APPLICATION NARRATIVE

1. In two to four sentences, please describe your idea. (638 characters max.)
2. Clearly state the objectives for the idea, and plans for evaluating your success. (1,275 characters max.)
3. Describe your partnership, collaborative planning and the learners that you serve, including underserved students. (1,275 characters max.)
4. How does your proposal align with the State of Maine Learning Results for Visual and Performing Arts and other standards if relevant? (1,275 characters max.)
5. Who are the professional teachers and teaching artists involved in this project? Summarize their professional experience.(1,275 characters max.)

APPLICATION PACKAGE REQUIREMENTS

A completed application in the Grants Management System (GMS) for the Arts Learning Grant contains:

ONLINE

• Completed answers to all narrative prompts
• Completed project budget
• Most recently completed Form 990 (for organizations only)
• Resumes, bios, or curriculum vitae for all key personnel. Include resumes for all teaching artists
• One to three letters of support from individuals or representatives of organizations or schools who can speak to their anticipated benefit from the project
• Lesson Plan/Unit showing learning outcomes and assessment tools

To read all of the details please go to https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Grants/artslearning.

If you have any questions please contact Argy Nestor, Director of Arts Education, Maine Arts Commission at argy.nestor@maine.gov.

Ticket to Ride Funding Available

Just in time

We’ve just learned that funding is once again available for the Maine Arts Commission Ticket to Ride program. If you are unfamiliar with the program below is the information.

The Ticket to Ride program began in 2010 with start up funding provided by the Jane B. Cook 1992 Charitable Trust and matched by the Maine Arts Commission. In 2011, the agency received support from the Betterment Fund that will allow the program to continue for an additional three years.

The program provides funding to defray the cost of travel for Maine schools wishing to visit Maine arts based venues and events as part of a well rounded curriculum. Any PK-12 school in Maine is eligible to receive support of up to $300 each school year and any PK-12 school in Maine with a documented free and reduced lunch student population of 50 percent or greater is eligible to receive support of up to $500 each school year.

Ticket to Ride is the Maine Arts Commission’s response to the decline in school day student attendance at Maine arts based venues and events. This decline has been directly linked to the increase in cost of transportation and has impacted both Maine students as well as the venues and organizations that rely on the sale of student tickets to fuel the creative economy and to provide out of school arts education.

Ticket to Ride is designed for ease of administration; school personnel need only download and complete a two-page document to be eligible for funding. The only other requirement is the submission of follow-up documentation that includes teacher feedback and student work samples of the experience. This final report helps the Maine Arts Commission secure funding to continue the Ticket to Ride program.

The Maine Arts Commission respectfully requests that Ticket to Ride funds not be used to replace existing transportation funds in school budgets but rather to supplement them when necessary. Schools are welcome to use Ticket to Ride funds in combination with transportation funds that may be available from individual Maine arts based venues and events.

For program guidelines and access the application please CLICK HERE.

 

Funding Opps

Check out these grants

ASCD Teacher Impact Grants (TIGs)

TIGs provide funding and support directly to teachers for promising teacher-led, administrator-supported ideas, programs, or initiatives to improve education. These grants allow teachers to develop and execute projects that can serve as models to be replicated and scaled.

The program provides the flexibility, funding, and evaluation support necessary to meet the unique needs of promising teacher-led projects. The grants cultivate the expertise of teachers and help to position them as leaders driving transformation in schools, districts, and states.

How Do I Apply?
Applicants must provide a summary of their proposed project, including a specific budget narrative for how TIG funds will be used to support the overall goals and objectives of the proposed project. Proposed projects should be for the 2016–17 school year, with funding available starting August 31, 2016. The estimated average size of a single award is $10,000.

Application Period
The application period will be open from May 16 to June 16, 2016. The application deadline is June 16, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. eastern time.

For more information and the applications please CLICK HERE.

 

Farmers Insurance Thank America’s Teachers

Inspired by the great work teachers do in classrooms every day, Farmers wants to say thank you for their tireless dedication. Through Thank America’s Teachers, Farmers Insurance is giving away more than $1 million in two separate grant opportunities again in 2016.

Their $2,500 grant program addresses teachers’ day-to-day classroom needs and the $100,000 Dream Big Teacher Challenge empowers teachers’ educational visions for their schools and the community at large.

One hundred eighty $2,500.00 grants and eight $100,000 grants will be awarded. Submit your proposal by May 31, 2016.

For more information and the applications please CLICK HERE.

Arts Learning Grants

Maine Arts Commission grants

The Maine Arts Commission awards grants to artists, arts organizations, and arts educators through 12 different programs. The 2016 applications for six of these, with a deadline of March 24, are now open. The Arts Learning grant is especially for schools and educators working with students providing arts education.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 24, 2016, 5 PM.

The maximum award is $5,000. Last year the average grant award was $2,300.

ABOUT GRANT

Funds are to be used to enhance PK-12 arts education through teaching artist programs, connections with community arts education, curriculum planning, professional learning for arts educators, teaching artists and teachers of all content.

The proposal should include the use of best educational standards-based practices reflecting 21-century teaching and learning.

PK-12 schools, community organizations, and cultural institutions acting as or in partnership with teaching artists are eligible to apply for the Arts Learning grant.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Your school or organization is eligible to apply if it meets all of the following criteria:

• Is a nonprofit organization, legally established in the state of Maine.
• Has a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, is a public school, or is a unit of municipal, county or tribal government.
• Is in compliance with final reports required for any previous Maine Arts Commission awards received.

REVIEW CRITERIA

Arts Learning Grant applications are reviewed on a competitive basis using the following criteria:

• Demonstration of high-quality arts education teaching and learning opportunities. (25%)
• Clear description of the project and its impact. (20%)
• Evidence of significant collaborative planning among teachers and other partners and capacity to carry it out. (20%)
• Description of evaluation methodology with clear objectives and outcomes. (15%)
• Alignment with State of Maine Learning Results for Visual and Performing Arts and the Common Core standards. (10%)
• Assurance that the project will include certified, trained teaching artists and will provide professional development opportunities where appropriate. (10%)

APPLICATION NARRATIVE

(All character counts include spaces. 4,400 characters/page)

1. In two to four sentences, please describe your idea. (4,400 characters)
2. Clearly state the objectives for the idea, and plans for evaluating your success.(2,300 characters)
3. Describe your partnership, collaborative planning and the learners that you serve, including underserved students. (2,300 characters)
4. How does your proposal align with the State of Maine Learning Results for Visual and Performing Arts? If relevant, speak to the Common Core standards. (2,300 characters)
5. Who are the professional teachers and teaching artists involved in this project? Summarize their professional experience. (2,300 characters)

APPLICATION PACKAGE REQUIREMENTS

• Complete answers to all narrative prompts
• Completed project budget
• Most currently completed 990 (for organizations only)
• Resumes, bios, or curriculum vitae for all key personnel. Include resumes for all teaching artists
• One to three letters of support from individuals or representatives of organizations or schools who can speak to their anticipated benefit from the project
• Lesson Plan/Unit showing learning outcomes and assessment tools

To read all of the details please go to http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Grants/artslearning#.

Funding Opportunities

 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

The NCTM is accepting applications from teachers of pre-K-2 mathematics for projects that incorporate music into the elementary school classroom to help young students learn mathematics. For 2015–16, grants of up to $3,000 will be awarded to individual classroom teachers or small groups of teachers collaborating in one grade or across grade levels. Any acquisition of equipment must support the proposed plan but not be the primary focus of the grant. Proposals must address the combining of mathematics and music, planning for improving students’ learning of mathematics, and/or the anticipated impact on students’ achievement. Please click here to read more.

P. Buckley Moss Foundation Accepting Applications For Arts-Integrated Education Programs
The mission of the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education is to promote the integration of the arts into all educational programs, with a special focus on children who learn in different ways. The foundation is accepting grant applications from educators who need financial assistance to maintain or implement an arts education program. Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to support new or evolving programs that integrate the arts into educational programming. Although the purpose of the grant program is to assist teachers who wish to establish an effective way of using the arts to teach children who learn differently, proposed projects must serve all children in the classroom, including those with no trouble learning in a general education setting. Please click here to read more.

Teens Teaching Tech
Apply for a grant to hold your own Teens Teaching Tech program in your community. Older adults have gadgets like digital cameras, tablets, mobile phones, and apps that they find challenging to use. The goal of this program is to help senior citizens feel comfortable with ever-evolving technology. The applicant must be part of a school-based club or homeschool community organization in the United States. The $250.00 grants are provided to high school clubs: community service, National Honors Society, and computer clubs. http://bit.ly/TeenTechGrant Deadline: September 15

Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship 
The State Department is currently accepting applications to help fund innovative travel around the world by young people who use education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and/or communication and information to build strong ties among nations. The fellowship is intended for American college students who have not been afforded many opportunities to travel abroad. Through 4 to 6 weeks of travel anywhere in the world, you can have the opportunity to interact with individuals from other nations while promoting the goals of UNESCO! http://bit.ly/statedeptfellowship Deadline: September 22

Captain Planet Foundation Grants 
Captain Planet Foundation will accept small grant requests for amounts between $500 – $2,500.  All proposed activities must be project-based, projects must be performed by youth; and projects must have real environmental outcomes. The Captain Planet Foundation primarily makes grants to U.S.-based schools and organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $3 million.  International requests are also accepted, with preference given to international projects that have U.S.-based partners. Preferential consideration is given to requests who have secured at least 50% matching or in-kind funding for their projects.  http://bit.ly/y1tPpz   Deadline: September 30

Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grants 
Whatever goals and dreams you have for your school, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant Program can help fulfill them with grants of $2,000 to $5,000. K-12 public schools as well as school parent-teacher groups are eligible. Preference is given to funding requests that have a permanent impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) and landscaping or clean up projects. http://bit.ly/195qDKm  Deadline: October 15

Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program
The Grassroots Organizing for Social Change Program supports non-profit grassroots, constituent-led organizations across the country that are using direct action, grassroots community-organizing strategies to accomplish their goals. Proposals should align with the Foundation’s broad interests in social justice, environmental justice and sustainable food systems. They fund organizations with budgets of $500,000 or less. Grant awards are up to $20,000 for a one-year period.  http://bit.ly/1pQmD6A                      Deadline: October 15

NYLC Youth Leadership for Service-Learning Excellence Award
The Youth Leadership for Service-Learning Excellence Award recognizes service-learning programs and projects that demonstrate outstanding youth leadership. This award focuses on projects that show a high level of youth initiative in all areas including identifying an authentic need, planning the service, and putting that plan into action. Teams of young people participating in service-learning projects can apply. http://bit.ly/1rfyhas  Deadline: November 7

NYLC Service-Learning Practitioner Leadership Award
The Service-Learning Practitioner Leadership Award recognizes those who have equipped young people to lead and serve, both through their direct work with youth and by nurturing other practitioners. Nominations are accepted from the general public, and a committee of leaders from the service-learning field will select the winners. http://bit.ly/1rfyhas  Deadline: November 7

Arts Learning Grant

Maine Arts Commission announces arts education available funding

Things are cooking at the Maine Arts Commission as the grant programs are being posted for the next fiscal year.

The deadline for the Arts Learning grant, of up to $5000 with a half match are available to apply for until April 15, 2014.

This program provides funding to support high quality visual and/or performing arts education for PK-12 learners and/or educators of this population.

The learning opportunity must take place between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. Funding will be made available after July 1, 2014. I urge you to take a look at this opportunity and collaborate with your colleagues, teaching artists, and/or community members to consider ideas.

Criteria

Grant proposals are reviewed on a competitive basis using the following criteria:

1. Demonstration of high quality arts education teaching and learning opportunity.
2. Clear description of the project and its impact.
3. Evidence of significant collaborative planning among all partners and capacity to carry it out.
4. Description of evaluation methodology with clear objectives and outcomes.
5. Assurance that the project will include certified and highly qualified arts educators, trained teaching artists and will provide professional development opportunities where appropriate.

You can learn more at the Maine Arts Commission site at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Grants/artslearning#

Shared Delivery of Arts Education

Createquity blog

In a December 3rd blog writer Talia Gibas describes the model called “shared delivery” that provides students with an excellent arts education. This involves three parties:

1. generalist elementary school teacher
2. arts specialists, and
3. teaching artists and/or community arts organizations.

In this model the three entities collaborate to provide a visual and performing arts education. It is a great read that provides an in-depth explanation of the model and the benefit to all students.

Once you read the post at http://createquity.com/2012/12/unpacking-shared-delivery-of-arts-education.html#comment-17302 be sure and read Ayanna N. Hudson, Director of Arts Education at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) comment at the bottom of the post. I recently posted (on the “Prof Dev Opps” page) the grants being offered from the NEA.